Greetings from Fayetteville! I am very pleased to share the developments in the department over the past few months. Decision Day in March was a huge success with 74 first-year students signing up to earn their undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering! In the past few months, our faculty members and students have been busy with research and travel. Several of our graduate students presented at the Optical Society's annual Biophotonics Congress, and master's student Jessica Perez has been doing research at the Harefield Heart Research Centre in London. Our graduating seniors were recognized with numerous honors this year, and recent graduate Alex Khang, BME'16 was named an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. I also encourage you to read more about our ongoing research activities.

Below, I hope you'll read the stories and join me in recognizing the accomplishments of all our students and faculty. I'm looking forward to seeing what else we accomplish this summer! The Department is also thankful for the scholarship support we have received so far and appreciate your continued support as we grow further. Please do not hesitate to call (479-575-8610), email (rajrao@uark.edu) or visit us. We would love to hear from you.

Decision Day 2017

This year, 74 first-year students signed up to earn their undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering!

This year, our graduating seniors received several top honors. Abby Terlouw received an Outstanding Senior awardfrom the Biomedical Engineering Department, and was recognized as a First Ranked Senior Scholar for having achieved a 4.0 grade point average while attending the University of Arkansas.Ethan Echols was recognized by the University of Arkansas for being selected as a Presidential Scholar, and Courtney Hunter was recognized as a Senior of Significance.

From April 2-5, Kyle Quinn and Narasimhan Rajaram, both assistant professors of biomedical engineering, attended the Optical Society's annual Biophotonics Congress. Held this year in San Diego, the congress focused on optics in the life sciences and featured more than 55 technical sessions and over 270 presentations. Three of Dr. Rajaram's students also presented at the conference.

Biomedical Engineering Students Present Posters at Annual Research Symposium

On April 19, students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering presented posters at the Department's annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Designed as a way for undergraduate students to showcase their ongoing research, the Symposium featured 17 posters this year. Each poster described the introduction/background, methods, results, and conclusions of a project performed by a student in conjunction with his/her peers and professors.

Researching Across the Pond: Jessica Perez Reports from the Harefield Heart Research Centre

photo courtesy of Jessica Perez

Department News

Grants/Awards

A team of biomedical and mechanical engineering students took second place in the2017 Senior Capstone Design Poster Competition, hosted by the College of Engineering. Students Rachel Russell, Katherine Gilbert, Daniela Arauz, Karam Sra, and Sam Stephens worked with Morten Jensen, associate professor of biomedical engineering, to create a biomechanically correct model of the mitral valve chamber.

In April, Research Assistant Professor Hanna Jensen spoke at a Girls of Promise conference, which is a conference designed to introduce 8th-grade girls to women role models in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

On February 6, Assistant Professor Timothy Muldoon talked to KUAF Radio about his forthcoming Signature Seminar Honors course, entitled, "Cancer: A Constellation of Disease."